The Liberian Flag, Designed or Copied?

August 24 - Flag Day is a national holiday for Liberians. Seven women are credited with designing this national symbol. On October 24, 1915, President Daniel Edward Howard signed into law an act passed into law by the National Legislature that made it a public holiday. On this day, Liberians come together to remember their country’s history and the flag that it represents; school children parades on the streets carrying miniature flags in their hands. To many people, the national flag is a symbol of pride, fidelity, and dignity. It is referred to as the ‘Lone Star’. The Country’s National Soccer Team is called the ‘Lone Star’.

The chair of the flag committee, Susannah Lewis is referred to as the Betsy Ross of Liberia. Mrs. Ross is the woman that designed the American Flag. Unlike Betsy Ross, the Liberian flag was ‘designed’ by the following seven women:Susannah Lewis, Matilda Newport, Rachel Johnson, Mary Hunter, J.B. Russwurm, Conilette Teage, and Sara Dripper. These seven women were born in America. Susannah Lewis and Sarah Draper are from Philadelphia; Mary L. Hunter is from South Carolina; Rachel Johnson, Matilda Newport and Mrs. J. B. Russwurm are from Baltimore, Maryland, and Collinette Teage Ellis is from Virginia. Based on the design, many individuals have concluded that the Liberian flag is a replica of the United States’ flag. It has similar red and white stripes, a blue square with a white star in the canton.

SIMILAR CONCEPT
The eleven stripes symbolize the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence; the red and white symbolize courage and moral excellence. The white star represents the freedom the ex-slaves were given; the blue square represents the African mainland. It is believed that the Liberian flag resembles the American flag because Liberia is the only country in the world that was colonized, controlled and established by freed African Americans and ex-slaves settlers from the United States and the Caribbean islands with the help and support from the American Colonization Society. http://us.when.com/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia?s_chn=3&pt=aolsem&typecontent&v_t=content

SIGNATORIES OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
The Declaration of independence of Liberia was written by Hilary Teage, and twelve men from the three original counties:Montserrado,Grand Bassa and Sinoethat served as representatives to the Constitutional Convention which convened in Monrovia on July 5, 1847, signed the Declaration of Independence.

The signatories to the Declaration of Independence are TWELVE, but only the number ELEVEN is mentioned. What happened to the TWELVETH Person? Was it a mistake in recording? How come the number eleven is mentioned when there were twelve men who signed the declaration of independence?

Since grade school, I have been bothered with the number discrepancy. Perhaps, Liberian historians and scholars that will read this article will provide the answer.

Find below the names and counties of the signers of the Declaration of Independence:

This brings me to the main reason I decide to write this article. In the August 25, 2015 edition of the FrontPageAfrica, an article was published under the caption: Flag Day:‘Don’t Change Liberian Flag, Orator Urges Patriotism’. The Keynote Speaker of the day was Dr. Joseph Isaac, President of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU). It reads:

…Dr. Joseph Isaac highlighted “Patriotism” in the Liberian context. He defined patriotism as the expression of emotions; love and commitment to one’s country and ideas that the country represents; strong belief in nationalism and devotion to the national interest. “Patriotism is rooted in respect for one’s nation,” he said; but warned that it must rely on visionary people.

…In order to have patriotism, he named four basic characteristics of emotions: one must have special affection for a country; sense of personal identity for that country; special concern for the well-being of that country; and the willingness to sacrifice for and promote that country. “Patriotism also means protecting your national heritage,” he said, citing examples of protecting your ancestors’ legacy, remembering their contributions and honoring their works, as well as realizing their dreams.

My question to him is whose ancestors was he referring to when he said: “… protecting your ancestors’ legacy, remembering their contributions and honoring their works, as well as realizing their dreams”…?

Let me return to the discussion about the flag. According to many Liberian historians, the Liberian Flag was designed by the seven women mentioned earlier in this article. I believe these historians did not write or record the history about the Flag accurately. Their inaccuracy in this area is the reason for which I decided to write this article. In doing so, we need to ask the following questions – Was the Liberian Flag designed or copied? How is Design defined in the dictionary? According to Webster Dictionary, Design is defined as: creating or constructing an object or a system, i.e., architectural blueprints, engineering drawings, sewing and patterns, whereas, to Copy is to replicate a material.

The readers can now decide which word (Design or Copy) that is appropriate in referring to how the Liberian Flag was made:

The Liberian Flag

As you can see, the Liberian flag bears a close resemblance to the flag of the United States; showing the ex-American and ex- Caribbean slaves origins of the country. The Liberian flag has similar red and white stripes, as well as a blue square with a white star in the canton. The eleven stripes represent the eleven signers of the Declaration of Independence (actually, they were twelve: 6 from Montserrado County, 4 from Grand Bassa County, and 2 from Sinoe County, making the number twelve).

The American Flag

Betsy Ross

The flag of the United States was designed by Betsy Ross of Philadelphia. It has red-and-white striped field with five-pointed stars in a blue canton. The flag was designed during the American Revolution and it features 13 stars representing the original 13 colonies. The distinctive feature of the Ross flag is the arrangement of the stars in a circle.

The evidence is there to be seen that the Liberian flag is a replica of the United States’ flag. The thirteen stars in the American flag represent the original thirteen states. The eleven stripes in the Liberian flag represent the eleven signers (twelve to be exact) of the Liberian Declaration of Independence. Almost similar concept like the American flag!

The problem I find with the annual Flag Day celebration is, speaker after speaker failed to introduce new ideas about the flag; instead, they continue to promote the same political and cultural divide that has failed to unite us as one people since the founding of the Republic. This observation was captured in the Daily Observer’s Monday, August 24, 2015 editorial, titled: “Why The Flag Means Everything And Nothing”.It reads:

Many Liberians, however, see the flag as a symbol of settler oppression against the indigenous tribes occupying Liberia, from 1822 until present; and understandably so. The effects of the dual society that prevailed here are still evident today, as the majority of our population still lives in abject poverty, without food, clean water or electricity. Under these circumstances, we cannot expect them to embrace the flag. But, rather than considering a futile change in flag design, we must recognize that the widespread distaste for our flag is just a symptom of Liberia’s failure to live up to its identity as a liberator, both domestically and continentally.

…Liberia spearheaded Africa’s drive for political freedom, helping its brothers forge a continent of proud and sovereign nations. But while we were pushing for Africans’ self-determination in other territories, we disenfranchised our own indigenous peoples. How long did it take us to allow them to vote, or to hold public office? Through our hypocrisy, we blackened our own image and allowed deep-rooted divisions to rip our country to shreds.

The FrontPageAfrica’s August 28, 2015 made similar observation in its editorial titled: “Liberia’s 85% Poverty Level Staggering, Genuine Actions Needed To Rescue Dying”. It reads:

LIBERIA IS A resource rich country blessed with deposits of iron ore, gold and having vast natural rain forest.THE POPULATION IS far lower than many countries on the continent, with less than four million people, it is one of the least populated in West Africa and Africa as whole, falling far below its neighbors Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast.

ABOUT 12 YEARS after the civil war, the country is yet to show improvement in many areas including living standard. Unemployment is still very high and a large number of the small population lives on begging and transitory income.

IN A LATEST report which is based on data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Liberia is ranked as the 5th poorest country in Africa with a GDP per Capita of $454. The report states that about 85% of the population lives below $1. This is clearly a paradoxical situation for the resources the country has and the level of investment it has attracted since 2005.

…AFTER SIGNING SEVERAL concession agreements said to be in the neighborhood of US$16 billion, to be rated the 5th poorest country on the African continent is quite astonishing and needs urgent attention from state actors.

…OUT OF THE US$1.61 billion the Government of Liberia indicated that it could only generate approximately $510 million in revenues that can be dedicated to PRS-related activities, leaving a gross financing gap of approximately US $1.1 billion over the PRS period (about US$400 million per year).

THIS WAS A CLEAR sign that the government was not serious in reducing poverty for its people. By merely expressing that it could only generate 510 million in three years meant the PRS could only survive based on donors support.

…IT IS VERY STAGGERING to be ranked the 5th poorest country on a continent of 54 countries, especially when you are the oldest independent country.THE LATEST REPORT SHOULD serves as a wakeup call to state actors in Liberia to work to reduce poverty for the Liberian people. Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who was highly regarded as a savior in the eyes of the Liberian people should not leave office leaving the country at the bottom of the poverty index in Africa.

The real challenge is how do we find a balance that preserves our history, and at the same time expunge it of those elements that are not healthy for building a robust democracy. The motto - “The Love Of Liberty BroughtUs Here” is a constant reminder that the country is still divided on Settlers and indigenous line.
The question is how does one preserve historical national symbols that are not inclusive, and at the same time cleanse one’s mind into having a positive future? Is it true to say that because something is historical, therefore, it needs preserving? Why should one be patriotic about national symbols that do not represent their interest? How can a disenfranchised majority relate to national symbols that do not include them when the national leadership continues to promote the tradition of honoring distinguished Liberians and friends of Liberia with a national symbol called: “The Most Venerable Order of Knighthood of the Pioneers of the Republic of Liberia”? The indigenous population is NOT part of the group the “Love Of Liberty” brought to Africa. In fact, the “Love Of Liberty” met tribes in Africa. This divide should have been resolved 41 years ago.

For example on July 22, 1974, the Liberian National Legislature enacted an Act authorizing the late President William Richard Tolbert, Jr. to set up a commission to address the issue of Liberia’s National Symbols. The Commission came into existence purposely due to persistent calls from citizens who felt that certain national symbols were divisive; therefore, they needed to be revised in order to include all of the citizens of the Republic of Liberia.

The goal of the Commission was to review the Symbols and Constitution with the objective of recommending to him (Tolbert) the necessary changes that were needed in order to promote genuine unity that was lacking since the “founding” of the country. The symbols and document that the Commission was to review were: the national motto, national flag, national anthem and the Constitution of Liberia.

Through a proclamation, President Tolbert outlined the guidelines by which the Commission was mandated to review the national symbols. According to the President, the mandate empowered the Commission to review the national symbols (motto, flag, anthem and constitution) "with a view of stamping out every idea that may suggest class distinction, separateness or sectionalism among the people of Liberia."

This Commission consisted of fifty-one members; it was chaired by Post Master McKinley A. Deshield. The Commission worked for three and half years (July 22, 1974 - January 24, 1978) and submitted its findings to the President. Guess what happened? Based on the opposition of one Commissioner, Christian Abayomi Cassell, the recommendations were NEVER implemented. It is alleged that he strongly opposed to changing the motto – “The Love Of Liberty Brought Us Here”. To this effect, he made his opposition known to President Tolbert through a memorandum. (See Historical Dictionary of Liberia, 1985)

The truth of the matter is, Liberian elites and Liberian Government officials are NOT serious about making changes to our national symbols. Can you imagine that after putting the Liberian people through tiresome exercise of coming up with those recommendations to make changes to the divisive national symbols; the Government had them placed on the shelf. And it is over 41 years from (1974 – 2015) since those recommendations were made. Yet today, we are still discussing making changes to them.

The problem here is our leaders put their selfish interests over the common good of the masses. For the most part, many of our people’s support for politicians are based on what they can get from them and not what they stand for. This is the reason most elected officials grossly violate public trust. They earned supports on the basis of the handouts they provide—‘brown envelopes’ hand delivered at night to these unprincipled supporters. These individuals do not care where their handouts come from; as long as they keep coming to them, their families, friends and relatives, they have no empathy for the rest of the suffering masses who live on less than $1 DOLLAR a day.

This is a serious problem we are faced with. The mindset of ‘don’t care’ must be done away with. It reminds me ‘Mind your business’ or ‘Your leave the people’s thing alone’ that as youth we were advised not to get involve in vexed Liberian issues. Personally, I believe had we gotten involved at an early age, we would have helped to educate our people regarding what was wrong in our country and how it could be resolved amicably. This approach could have prevented some of the problems we are facing today.

Fellow compatriots, the unity we seek involves a complete paradigm shift! To achieve change requires moving away from one’s old ways of doing (behaving) things. It encompasses a deeper understanding of humanity’s quest to do what is right for no reason other than it is the right thing to do. Since change is not easy to come by, those who are not willing to make the sacrifice, often refer to those of us who seek change as ‘boat rockers’ and ‘troublemakers’. And if history is any guide to understanding the genesis of a country’s pregnant palaver, and how that palaver, i.e., ethnicity, inequality, injustice, peace, reconciliation and national unity are addressed, the Liberian experience is no exception.

Conclusion and Recommendation
Honestly, many of us are sick and tired of listening to speaker after speaker repeating the same old story about the importance of the Liberian flag and what it means to the citizens and the country. To the majority of the people, it means nothing. To add insults to injury, on every Flag Day we are asked to remain patriotic. How can a people remain patriotic to something they cannot relate to?

Personally, I have unfavorable memories of Flag Days growing up in Monrovia – whether in the Clay Street or PHP (Public Health Pond) communities. As a student, I believe other students of that period (the late 50s) can attest to the HARDTIME we experienced on Flag Day. We were practically forced to drill in the rain without any refreshments; i.e., snacks, soft drinks or cold drinking water to quench our thirst. The Government could have made these provisions available to schools in order for students to be entertained after drilling. The Government appropriates funds for other programs; this is one program that funds could benefit.

I remember a particular incident as if it was yesterday. Many, many years ago, a student in my Zion Academy Junior High School platoon (at the time, I was the Major for the school; second to Godfrey Tetteh Darpoh of St. Patrick Elementary School in drilling) fainted in line; when he was revived, and asked, “What is wrong with you?” He said, “I had nothing to eat his morning”. In those days, there were students who could not afford to buy Karla, Coconut Candy, Milk Candy, and Kool-aide during recess.

Therefore, when I read about orators on Flag Day calling on students and Liberians in general to remain patriotic, it reminds of the hungry young man who fainted in line because he had not eating. This year’s orator, Dr. Joseph Isaac could have appealed to the Government to make funds available to schools on Flag Day to provide refreshments: snacks, soft drinks or cold drinking water; instead, he urged thirsty and hungry students, and starving citizens to remain “patriotic”. To me that’s unpatriotic!

Come to think about, on many July 26 (Independence Days), numerous Orators have made sound recommendations but they have been ignored by the Government. One can only conclude that the Government does not mean business in resolving these problems.

For example in 2012, Dr. D. Elwood Dunn challenged the government and people of Liberia to rethink and debate the appropriateness of the national symbols, notably the nation’s seal, motto and flag. Dunn said:

I told the government that I have been writing and making speeches against our national decorations and symbols on the basis that they do not reflect our oneness as Liberians.

…My rejection comes from the perspective that, over our existence as a nation, there have been imbalances. There have been social imbalance, cultural imbalance, economic imbalance and many more. I want us to promote the balance of the imbalance, so that whatever region of the country you come from you can see yourself reflected in our symbols and decorations.

There continued to be struggles to implement many of the fine points raised by orators since the inception of the Unity Party (UP) Government of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

TO RECONCILE IS GOOD, BUTJUSTICE IS PREFERRED!
Fellow compatriots, reconciliation is good, but repentance for doing wrong to others is better. Let’s be mindful that history serves as a constant reminder of a people’s past and present events; without first finding resolutions to our national divide: INJUSTICE and INEQUALITY; we will not be able to achieve UNITY. Therefore, as a point of departure, we should learn a lesson or two from President Lyndon Baines Johnson's speech that he made to the graduating class of Howard University on June 4, 1965. He said:

You do not wipe away the scars of centuries by saying: 'now you are free to go where you want, do as you desire, and choose the leaders you please.' You do not take a man who for years has been hobbled by chains, liberate him, bring him to the starting line of a race, saying, 'you are free to complete with all the others,' and still justly believe you have been completely fair. This is the next and more profound stage of the battle for civil rights. We seek not just freedom but opportunity - not just legal equity but human ability - not just equality as a right and a theory, but equality as a fact and as a result.

Anything short of the message by President Johnson regarding the civil rights of African Americans will prevent Liberians from uniting as one nation and people. It is about time Liberian leaders honestly face the truth about our country’s pregnant problems. Until then, we will remind divided as ever. Mark my words!

About The Author: Siahyonkron Nyanseoris the Chair of the ULAA Council of Eminent Persons (UCEP), Inc. He is a poet, Griot, journalist, and a cultural and political activist. He is an ordained Minister of the Gospel. He is Chairman of the Liberian Democratic Future (LDF), publisher of theperspective.org online newsmagazine and Senior Advisor to the Voice of Liberia newsmagazine. In 2012, he Co-authored Djogbachiachuwa: The Liberian Literature Anthology; his book of poems: TIPOSAH: Message from the Palava Hut will soon be on the market. Nyanseor can be reached at: siah1947@gmail.com

Thank you for this article as you continue to inspire the Liberian masses.

Francis Baysahat 04:26PM, 2015/09/06.

Just as bad or unjust laws are abrogated, so too are bad, false, or unjust, histories/symbols discarded. It is only in Liberia you see false histories/symbols legitimized as was seen when Tipoteh went campaigning for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - a remnant or a second tier of the settlers whom all the national symbols (especially the flag and the motto) represent. Regarding the PRS, I bet you remember, it was Tipoteh again serving as Ellen Johnson Sirleaf´s public relations officer for such falsehood to have her criminal empire eligible for more donor and other IMF funds. I mention Tipoteh because he is your mentor/buddy, and you are the author of this powerful perspective which I hope Liberians will read and destroy all those unjust and bad national symbols to shreds.

Mae Mooreat 03:53AM, 2015/09/07.

Your article is beautiful and presents the fact. I think symbolically changes are good, but concrete actions that ensure that people have food on their table so that a learner does not go unconscious on parade ground is very important. Equally important is concrete actions that ensure that all young people in Liberia have access to go and industrious education that give them the wherewithal to start their own businesses so that they do not have to depend on Government job or foreign companies.

Our problem in Liberia is poor education. I think patriotism is not being true to symbols, it is everyone taking concrete actions that help the nations.

See the USA, it was built on people having the wherewithal to build industries, some of them from very little.

God bless Liberia

Kat 06:16AM, 2015/09/07.

The essay gives an impressive history of our flag and an excellent depiction of what the symbols and colors stand for. Nevertheless, one thing that I did not quite understand is when the author makes an analogy between the sufferings of our indigenes today and the national emblem. It is certainly a misdiagnosis of the causes.

If we were to change the flag and other symbols of our national existence today, the effects will only be cosmetic. Why? Visible signs clearly indicate that the native Liberian has imposed an organized institution of poverty against his own kin folk.

Since April 12, 1980 when the natives made their debut on the political stage of Liberia, they have dominated the political and economic aspect of the country. When you examine the contemporary makeup of the judicial, executive and legislative bodies of the government, whom do you find in the largest numbers today? You find the native Liberian dominating almost every sphere.

We hear about the legislators misappropriating the budgetary appropriations. Who are these legislators? Are they still the so-called Americo-Liberians?

We cannot keep beating on a certain segment of our population and attributing the causes of our pariah on that segment alone. It will take us nowhere.

I wonder why the author is incapable of looking at the improprieties of the Gola, Kru, Gio, Kissi of which I hailed from, Mano, Kru, Krahn and so forth? If tribalism is not the cause of his serious myopia then what else can it be?

We have heard quite recently of massive corruption happening in the government. Many of the names that we hear surrounding the scandals are native Liberians. Why can the author explain the issues like it should? Is it still the Americo-Liberian and his history of 1847 causing the crippling poverty of today?

Many of our problems today can no longer be attributed to the pre-historic explanations of people who came here from other parts of the world. We must come to grip with the realities that we, the natives, have failed our country; and that in order to correct many of the social issues, we must reconstruct our dialogue – a dialogue that would engender true unity and true brotherhood.

Patrick Samoluat 10:00AM, 2015/09/08.

Patrick Samolu,

The article is about the mis-presentations of our national symbols imposed by the 2% Americo Liberians or Congau ethnicity which ruled the nation for over most of the country´s existence. And those at fault are the Congaus or the Americo Liberians. Your defense for those criminals is illogical. DEAL WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER - ALL OF OUR NATIONAL SYMBOLS REFLECTING ONLY THE MINORITY 2% CONGAU.

Mae Mooreat 03:45PM, 2015/09/08.

Brother Baysah, even if Tipoteh is my ‘mentor/buddy’ as you mentioned; are you suggesting I am not capable of making my own decisions? Am I to take the blame for his action? My fellow compatriot, this is the problem I find with many Liberians in discussing pregnant issues regarding our country - when they disagreed with you on a particular point, instead of stating what they disagreed with about and provide an alternative argument/point, they go on a fishing trip to bring in something that has nothing do with subject.

Brother Baysah, you made a good point regarding Tipoteh, but you directed it at the wrong person. I suggest you take up with him. He is in a better position to give you his reason, and not me.
Anyway, thanks for your contribution.

Siahyonkron Nyanseorat 06:34AM, 2015/09/09.

Brother Nyanseor:

I think that you have wrongly misdirected your response re: the mention of Dr. Tipoteh to the wrong person.

Did you mean Mae Moore? I tnink your reply was intended for her instead of Mr. Baysah, since Mr. Baysah's response was in the affirmative and he made no mention of Dr. Tipoteh.

It is clear as daylight thatMae Moore is finding it difficult to develop a thesis and bring it to a cohesive conclusion.

This essay is not about Dr. Tipoteh!

James McGillat 10:03AM, 2015/09/10.

Brother James McGill,

Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I owe Brother Baysah a sincere apology for directing my response at him. The response was intended for the so-called Mae Moore. I doubt she is Ms. Moore. Whoever he/she is, the attack was directed at the wrong person. I suggest it should be taken up with Tipoteh. He is in a better position to give his reason for endorsing Ellen, and not me.

Siahyonkron Nyanseorat 02:02PM, 2015/09/10.

Mr. Nyanseor,

Make no mistake about that. I am Mae Nimleydee Moore. I live at Cooper Farm with my family - husband and three of my grand children. In the late seventies throughout the 80´s I worked with the National Security Agency. I am able to make this disclosure now because I have long retired and have no intent of working with the NSA anymore.

I have told Tipoteh this through many social media and prefer to tell him exactly what I told you about him whenever I am lucky to meet him.

This man is no use. How can you say all along you are fighting form the people, and then when the people produce one of themselves to lead the nation, you go on campaigning for the remnant of the very people you claim to have been fighting when you were wearing old car rubber tires named after you "Tipoteh"?

And then worst of all the man would go to the extent of letting the woman use him in her theft from the international community and his own people.

Mae Mooreat 09:54AM, 2015/09/11.

I am absolutely taken aback by Ms. Mae Moore who professes to have expertise in matters of the National Security Agency of Liberia. Why? Her reading comprehension and writing skills are not indicative of a person of such a caliber.

To begin with, the resounding theme of Mr. Nyanseor’s essay focused on the history of the Liberian flag; the significance of the symbols and certain socio-cultural dysfunctions that relate to it. I thoroughly read the essay to see the source of Ms. Moore’s argument but became more confused. Nowhere in the essay did Mr. Nyanseor mention the name of Dr. Tipoteh .

She calls certain people international criminals, but did not authenticate her claims. Well, like any of us she is entitled to her opinion. Nevertheless, she is not entitled to the facts.

Let me refer Ms. Moore to a passage of Mr. Nyanseor’s essay if what I am saying is asinine. Mr. Nyanseor stated that Liberia is the 5th poorest country in the world in term of GDP. I f one was to challenge this claim, the information can be found on www.cheatsheet.com.

I wonder what information gathering mechanism did Ms. Morre used while at the Liberian NSA? Was it hear-say, gossips, vicious lies and incrimination?

The reader public deserves better. There is a serious disconnect between what she says she is and her intellectual output!

The spirit of the article is preventing or abolishing the reflection of a tiny Congau or settlers monority over the huge majority - the indigenous population.

Tipoteh, in the early seventies paraded on high schools and university campuses, and even the concession areas, campaigning for the ABOLISHMENT OF ILLEGITIMATE, UNREASONABLE, AND UNJUST minority reflection and AND UNJUST minority rule.

Today, the very Tipoteh, instead of continuing such campaign, has made a 180 degree U-TURN campaigning for and unbehalf of the remnants of the very tiny minority led By Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. And this is exactly what we commented against!

Mr. Mcgill, One´s profession has nothing to do with his or her perspective on national issues; especially if or when there is no connection with that person´s profession and the given burning issue, as is the case here which has no essential link to the National Security Agency or national security profession.

In other words, Mr. Mcgill, when an article is written, DO NOT JUST READ AND JUMP TO CONCLUSION. Rather, read carefully and decipher WHAT THE SPIRIT OF THE ARTICLE IS! That is the mark of an intellectual!!!! And this is exactly what you lack. Do not forget this lesson. Keep it on your mental plate for your own good.

Finally,Mr. Mcgill, please digest that the spirit or intent of the article By Mr. Nyanseur is: preventing or abolishing the reflection of a tiny Congau or settlers monority over the huge majority - the indigenous population.

Mae Mooreat 03:08AM, 2015/09/19.

Mr. Mcgill, One´s profession or Place of work in the past, present, or future has nothing to do with his or her perspective on whichever issue. The intent or the spirit of Mr. Nyanseur´s atricle is abolishing the reflection of the tiny settler minority over the huge indigenous majority. Tipoteh, in the past campaign for the abolishment of such illigetimate and undemocratic reflection or rule. Today, the very Tipoteh has made a 180 degree UTURN By campaigning for the remnant of the very tiny setler minority led By his friend Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. And that is what we commented against. You have simply shown you lack comprehension and analytical skills.

Mae Mooreat 03:16AM, 2015/09/19.

Mr. Mcgill,

The intent or spirit of an ARTICLE is what intellectuals comment on. The intent or spirit of this ARTICLE is abolishing the reflection of ONLY the tiny settlers. You have not reached the stage of an intellectual, and that is why you are blind. Mae Moore is quite correct.

Amos Frankat 04:27AM, 2015/09/20.

The flag was copied and NOT designed.The freed Congau slaves -both the darker and the lighter complexion copied the flag after that of their slave masters´ country - the USA-America, even though, they the very slaves were not recognized nor known as citizens of the USA! This "blindness", shortsightedness, or political stupidity, caused these so called new leaders of what became Liberia to make national symbols or insignia ONLY REFLECTING themselves - the 0.1 % Congau minority. We MUST HAVE national symbols relecting the whole nation.

Kandajaba Zoebohn Zoedjallahat 02:52AM, 2015/09/23.

We had our chance to effect change, but what did we do? We retained the images of the past. Even when SKD introduced the dollar, he put the image of JJ Roberts on it.
Did we only want superficial change of the Actors but not Substance? Look at the seal. When the people who are condemning Ellen get their change, will they effect real change or only character change?
When PYJ was torturing SKD on video and asking where the "Liberian People's" money was, was it so he could get his grubby hands on it or to give the money to the Liberian people?

Efessayfat 09:20AM, 2015/09/23.

Mr. or Ms. Efessayf,

YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT CHANGE IS!

"Change" regarding a nation is not simply about national symbols or affixing individuals or leaders on money. There have been great CHANGES since the heroic confrontations of the 70´s when the people (specifically the indigenous who are the majority)decided to trash minority rule and erect majority rule via MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY!

Today, there is no more minority rule! Rather, the majority is in power! Visit the Capitol, you see the majority is been represented as well as the minority! Before the heroic confrontations of the 70´s or before the revolution of 1980 the Capitol was jampacked with only the tiny Congau minority including the Executive Branch and the Judicial Branch - The Suprme Court! Today such nonesense is NO MORE!

These are changes or THIS IS CHANGE, my friend! Today, anyone can say whatever he or she believes without fear! This is Change! We have a FREE PRESS! THIS IS CHANGE my friend!

The very fact, the nation is now considering the NATION´S INSIGNIA reflecting the whole nation istead of a tiny ethnic minority IS A CHANGE IN ITSELF! AND YOU KNOW IT!

Finally, if you do not have any thing reasonable to say or write viz a particular issue, you better just keep quiet!

Mae Mooreat 04:23AM, 2015/09/24.

Changing the flag will bring people out of poverty? How about you so called intellectuals discuss and propose real and tangible means through which the plight of the poor can be addressed.

The nation was founded by the settlers, the symbols reflect and give well deserved credit to them for that accomplishment. There was certainly no official nation in the area before they established Liberia.

For all intents and purposes the Americo-Liberians only expanded their borders to include the indigenous people because the Europeans had begun to claim the hinterland. Perhaps they should have left the indigenous people to their own devices or to the will of the Europeans because expanding the borders certainly created more problems for the nation. Either way they would still be accused of being selfish for not wanting to include their neighbors.

In my personal opinion they would have done better to let the borders remain as is because expansion only caused a dilemma by bringing in the ancestors of ingrates like the author of this piece.

CKat 08:46AM, 2015/10/22.

CK wrote:
Changing the flag will bring people out of poverty? How about you so called intellectuals discuss and propose real and tangible means through which the plight of the poor can be addressed.

The nation was founded by the settlers, the symbols reflect and give well deserved credit to them for that accomplishment. There was certainly no official nation in the area before they established Liberia.

For all intents and purposes the Americo-Liberians only expanded their borders to include the indigenous people because the Europeans had begun to claim the hinterland. Perhaps they should have left the indigenous people to their own devices or to the will of the Europeans because expanding the borders certainly created more problems for the nation. Either way they would still be accused of being selfish for not wanting to include their neighbors.

In my personal opinion they would have done better to let the borders remain as is because expansion only caused a dilemma by bringing in the ancestors of ingrates like the author of this piece.

Note: These ingrates have done nothing to help build or improve the nation the settlers shared with their ancestors. Their only contribution has and continues to be the habitual denigration of the nation's founders and fore fathers. Even the slave owning, racist forefathers of the United States are treated with more respect by that country's citizens and these people wrote in the Constitution that black people were lesser human beings and didn't extend to them any rights for a much longer period than anything that was done in Liberia. I bet the author there sitting his behind in the US respects the American flag/symbols and celebrates all the national holidays....eating all the turkey on Thanksgiving. While he has no love or respect for his own black people.

CKat 09:14AM, 2015/10/22.

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